Past Tech: Phone-Card-Phone - the world's first disposable mobile phone

In November 1999, Randice-Lisa 'Randi' Altschul was issued a series of patents for the world's first disposable cell phone. Trademarked the Phone-Card-Phone, the device had the thickness of three credit cards and made from recycled paper products.

This was a real cell phone (outgoing messages only) with 60 minutes of calling time and a hands free attachment.

The 2-inch by 3-inch mobile phone was manufactured by Altschul's Cliffside Park, New Jersey, US company, Dieceland Technologies. The entire phone body, touch pad and circuit board was made of paper substrate. The paper-thin cell phone used an elongated flexible circuit which was one piece with the body of the phone, part of the patented Stttm technology. The ultra thin circuitry was made by applying metallic conductive inks to paper.